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Treaty deal a major step forward for Aotearoa

The settlement achieved between the Crown and the Central North Island Iwi Collective this week is a major step forward for all New Zealanders.

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The Treaty of Waitangi underpins a shared history and future for all New Zealanders. Through the Treaty Claims and Settlement process, we have in recent decades sought to address New Zealand's historic failure and strive once again to live up to the ideals of the Treaty.

We have sought to acknowledge the injustices past, and sought to build new and shared ambitions for New Zealand's future and New Zealand's people.

We have shown that the Treaty of Waitangi is indeed a living document.

This week we joined with iwi at Parliament to sign the largest Treaty of Waitangi Settlement agreement to date.

Treaty Negotiations Minister Dr. Michael Cullen and Maori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia joined with representatives of the seven Collective iwi to sign a deed of settlement resolving their claims on central North Island forestry assets.

The Collective represents over 100,000 people and is made up of Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāti Tuwharetoa, Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Whare, Ngāti Manawa, Raukawa, and the Affiliate Te Arawa Iwi and Hapū. Over 1000 people travelled to Wellington to be present at the signing ceremony.

The settlement was a result of the iwi-initiated, iwi-led negotiation process started by Dr Tumu Te Heuheu late last year. It will deliver a major economic boost to the members of the collective with significant gains for the regional and national economy.

This week sees three further significant Treaty settlement milestones:

Terms of Negotiations between Raukawa and the Crown were signed, marking the beginning of negotiations for the settlement of Raukawa's outstanding historic Treaty of Waitangi claims;
The initialling of the Deed of Settlement with Taranaki Whanui (Wellington).
The First Reading of the Affiliate Te Arawa Iwi and Hapu Settlement Bill.

Labour believes that the Treaty Settlements process gives all New Zealanders a chance to acknowledge difficult aspects of our history. And most importantly, the settlements process is giving all New Zealanders - Maori and Pakeha - a platform to move forward together.

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